Refuse packing assembly for buildings and the like

ABSTRACT

A hopper of a refuse packing assembly is positioned to receive refuse material from a refuse chute of a building. A ram is positioned in the hopper for movement transversely of the path traveled by refuse material as it falls into the hopper whereby movement of the ram into engagement with the refuse material will result in compaction of the refuse material between a front face of the ram and a yieldable panel member. An electrical control system automatically energizes the drive for the ram when a predetermined amount of refuse material has been received in the hopper.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Cyril R. Gollnick Oshkosh, Wis. [21] Appl. No. 861,663 [22] Filed Sept. 29, 1969 [45] Patented Dec. 7, 1971 [73] Assignee Leach Company Oshkosh,Wis.

[54] REFUSE PACKING ASSEMBLY FOR BUILDINGS AND THE LIKE i 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 100/49, 100/52,100/192,100/215,100/218,100/250, 100/289, 100/295 [51] Int. Cl B30b l/l8, B30b 15/14,B30b 15/32 (50] Field of Search 100/215, 218, 249, 250, 295,188 R, 229 A, 49, 52

[56] References Cited UN lTED STATES PATENTS 3,481,268 12/1969 Price et a1 100/49 3,541,949 11/1970 Clar 100/49 3,039,383 6/1962 Windle et al. 100/295 X 3,088,499 5/1963 Rieger 100/218 3,231,107 1/1966 Clar l00/229A 3,243,028 3/1966 Tufts 100/188 FOREIGN PATENTS 845,438 6/1952 Germany 100/295 Primary Examiner-Billy J. Wilhite Assistant ExaminerPhilip R. Coe A!!orney-Greist, Lockwood, Greenawalt & Dewey of refuse material has been received in the hopper.

PATENTED DEC 7197! SHEEI 1 BF 3 IN VEN TOR CYRIL R. GOLLN/CK Wmwgj a ATT'YS.

PATENTEDUEC 7|97| SHEET 2 F 3 7 3.625139 INVENTOR CYRIL R GOLLNICK ATT'YS.

SHEET 3 [IF 3 INVE N TOR CYRIL R. GOLLN/CK ATT'YS.

REFUSE PACKING ASSEMBLY FOR BUILDINGS AND THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a packing assembly for compacting refuse deposited in a chute of a building, such as an apartment building.

With increasing population and with an increased use of one-time use containers such as throwaway" bottles, cans, boxes, etc., there is an increasingly larger accumulation of refuse in buildings, particularly multiple story buildings such as office buildings and apartment buildings. As a result, storing of accumulated refuse pending collection thereof, is becoming a serious problem. To alleviate this problem, the present invention proposes a packing assembly including a hopper which is positioned to receive material from a chute of a building, compacting means for compacting the material received in the hopper and discharge means for discharging the compacted material from the hopper into a suitable temporary storage receptacle, pending collection thereof by a material collecting service.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION A general object of the present invention is the provision of a refuse packing assembly of the type described which facilitates accumulation and temporary storage of refuse material pending collection thereof by a refuse collecting servrce.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a refuse packing assembly of the type described which includes a ram movable in a hopper for engaging material deposited in the hopper.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a refuse packing assembly of the type described in which refuse material is compacted by a ram between a front face of the ram and a yieldable panel positioned in a discharge passageway of the assembly.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a refuse packing assembly of the type described in which a movable ram has stepped ram faces thereon so that refuse material falling into the hopper is first partially compacted by an upper rearward face of the ram during a first forward stroke of ram movement. Next, the partially compacted refuse is more fully compacted by a lower forward face of the ram during a second forward stroke of ram movement. At the end of the second stroke, the more fully compacted refuse material is forced into a discharge passageway of the assembly.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a refuse packing assembly of the type described in which con trol means are provided for energizing the compacting mechanism of the assembly when a predetermined amount of refuse material is in the hopper and for deenergizing the compacting mechanism when less than the predetermined amount of refuse material is in the hopper.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a refuse packing assembly of the type described in which control means are provided for automatically controlling the cycling of the ram of the assembly when refuse material is in the hopper of the assembly.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevational view of the refuse packing assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view taken along lines 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view taken along lines 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the electrical control circuit for the refuse packing assembly shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The refuse packing assembly of the present invention is generally indicated at 10 in FIG. 1. The assembly 10 has a back or rearward end 10a and a front or forward end 10b and includes a hopper l l positioned between the ends 10a and 10b below a refuse chute 12 which extends along, or out of, a wall portion of a building, generally indicated at 14. The hopper 11 has a back or rear side Ila and a front side 11b and is mounted on a supporting framework 15 of the assembly l0. The framework 15 includes two channel forming members 16 and 17 (FIG. 3), two rearward supporting legs 18 and 19 (FIG. 3) and two forward supporting legs 20 and 21 (FIGS. 2 and 3). The rearward supporting legs 18 and 19 are rigidly secured to the channel forming members 16 and 17 at the rearward end 10a by brackets 22 and 23 respectively and the forward supporting legs 20 and 21 are rigidly secured to the channel forming members 16 and 17 at positions adjacent the hopper 11 by similar brackets 24 and 25. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the forward supporting legs 20 and 21 are inclined upwardly from a supporting surface (not shown) beneath the front end 10b of the assembly 10 to provide resistance to horizontal forces imposed on the assembly 10 at the front end 10b thereof by a compacting mechanism 26 of the assembly 10.

As best shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the compacting mechanism 26 is supported by and between the channel forming members 16 and 17 and includes a ram 28 and a power drive therefor, indicated generally at 29. The power drive 29 includes a motor 30 connected to a first sprocket 31 (FIG. 4). A chain 32 connects the sprocket 31 to a second sprocket 33 which, in turn, is connected to a drive shaft 34. The drive shaft 34 (FIG. I) is suitably held against axial movement by thrust bearings (not shown) and is connected to a screw 35 for rotating the same. The thrust bearings also serve to prevent axial movement of the screw 35.

The ram 28 is threadingly received on the screw .35 for movement axially thereof into and out of the hopper 11 through a suitable opening in the back side Ila of the hopper I1. Rotational movement of the ram is prevented by engagement of a bottom side 28a of the ram 28 with the bottom of the hopper 11 and by engagement of a top side 28b of the ram 28 with a restraining flange 38 secured to an inner surface of the back side 11a of the hopper 11.

As shown in FIG. I, the ram 28 is preferably disposed for horizontal movement across the bottom of the hopper II and it will be understood that refuse material flowing into the hopper 11 from the chute 12 will flow vertically downwardly under the force of gravity onto or in front of the ram 28. As will be explained in detail in connection with the description of the circuit diagram shown in FIG. 5, a light path across the hopper 11 to a photocell will be interrupted when a predetermined amount of refuse has been accumulated in the hopper 11. The light directed toward the photocell is emitted from a light source 37 located on a side of the hopper 11. It will be understood that the light source 37 directs rays of light (into the plane of FIG. 1) across the hopper 11. When refuse material has been accumulated in the hopper 11 to the extent that the rays of light from the light source 37 across the hopper 11 to the photocell are interrupted, an electrical circuit is completed or closed to start cycling movement of the ram 28. The ram 28 will then move rearwardly to the left viewing the ram as shown in FIG. 1, until a depending limit switch cam 38, extending from the back side of the ram 28, engages a reverse limit switch 39 (as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 3). when this occurs, a reverse control circuit for the power drive 29 is opened to stop rearward movement of the ram 28 to the left and a forward control circuit is energized to initiate forward movement of the ram 28 to the right viewing the ram 28 as shown in FIG. 1. The ram 28 will continue its forward movement until the cam 38 engages a forward limit switch 40. When this occurs, the forward control circuit for the power drive 29 is opened 40 stop forward movement of the ram 28 and the reverse control circuit is energized to initiate reverse movement of the ram 28. This forward and reverse movement,

i.e., cycling, of the ram 28 will be more fully explained in connection with the description of FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 1, a front end 41 of the ram 28 extends beyond the front side 11b of the hopper 11 through a suitable opening therein when the ram 28 is in its most forward position. In this position, the cam 38 engages the forward limit switch 40. A yieldable resistor panel member 42 is positioned outside the hopper 11, adjacent the opening in the front side 1 lb of the hopper 1 l and directly opposite the front end 41 of the ram 28. Preferably, the resistor panel member 42 is positioned in a discharge chute indicated at 43 which forms a discharge passageway communicating with the opening in the front side Ilb.

Referring to FIG. 2, the resistor panel member 42 is pivotally supported on a shaft 44 which is secured at each end to sidewalls 45 and 46 of the chute 43. The resistor panel member 42 extends downwardly from the shaft 44 into the chute 43 through a top wall 47 of the chute 43 to a point spaced above a bottom wall 48 of the chute 54. Two side panels 49 and 50 are secured, respectively, to the sidewalls 45 and 46 and extend upwardly for respective pivotal connection to a shaft 52 mounted on two supporting arms 53 and 54 which extend from, and are secured to, the front side 11b of the hopper 11. With this arrangement, the panel member 42 can pivot about the shaft 44 into and out of the discharge chute 43, and the chute 43, together with the side panels 49 and 50, can pivot about the shaft 52 for moving the discharge chute 43 between an upper position, shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1, and a lower position where a first or inlet end 43a of the chute 43 is juxtaposed to the opening in the front side 11b of the hopper 11. As shown in FIG. 1, the chute 43 has a second or outlet end 43b from which compacted refuse material falls, preferably into a suitable receptacle therefor (not shown).

If desired, the top wall 47 can be releasably secured to the sidewalls 45 and 46. For this purpose, a first rod 55 is secured to the top wall 47 and has end portions received in, and held by, latch members 56a and 56b secured respectively to sidewalls 45 and 46 intermediate the chute ends 430 and 43b as best shown in FIG. 3. A second rod 58 is releasably received through apertures in holding brackets 59a and 59b which are secured respectively to sidewalls 45 and 46 at the second end 43b and is arranged to engage with seating and locating blocks 60a and 60b secured to the top wall 47. To remove the top wall 47, such as for cleaning the chute 43, the second rod 58 is removed and the top wall 47 is moved to the right viewing the same as shown in FIGS. I and 3 to release the end portions of the first rod 55 from the latch members 56a and 56b. then the top wall 57 can be raised and separated from the sidewalls 45 and 46.

Preferably a bar 61 is secured to the top wall 47 of the discharge chute 43 and has an opening therein through which a cable 62 is received and then clamped at 63 to provide a means for raising and lowering the discharge chute 43 from and to the lower position thereof. To securely hold the discharge chute 43 in the lower position, latching means are provided in the form of stub pins 64 and 65 secured to the chute 43 and hooks 66 and 67 secured to a frame member 68 of the assembly as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The stub pins 64 and 65 extend respectively outwardly from the sidewalls 45 and 46 on either side of the discharge chute 43 at points adjacent the bottom wall 48 of the chute 43 and adjacent the front side 11b of the hopper 11. The hooks 66 and 67 are pivotally mounted respectively to the frame member 68 which is situated at (and on either side of) the front side 11b of the hopper 11 and which is secured to the hopper 11 and the framework 15. It will be understood that the hooks 66 and 67 are adapted to hood or engage the stub pins 64 and 65 respectively to hold the chute 43 juxtaposed to the front side 11b of the hopper 11. The hooks 66 and '67 are pivoted counterclockwise, viewing hook 66 as shown in FIG. 1, before the discharge chute 43 can be raised by the cable 62.

The resistor panel member 42 includes a planar front plate portion 70, a curved bottom plate portion 71 and a back plate portion 72. The front plate portion 70 is normally positioned in the discharge chute 43 in a plane which is at an angle to the front side 11b of the hopper 11. The upper part of the front plate portion 70 is pivotally connected to the shaft 44 and the lower part is integral with the curved bottom plate portion 71. The bottom plate portion 71 extends arcuately from the front plate portion 70 to the back plate portion 72 which is integral therewith.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the resistor panel 42 is biased downwardly into the discharge chute and toward the opening in the front side 11b of the hopper II by a pair of springs 73 and 74. The lower ends of the springs 73 and 74 bear against a back side of the front plate portion 70 and the upper ends of the springs 73 and 74 are restrained by a bracket 75 which is secured to the side panels 49 and 50.

As shown in FIG. 3, the top wall 47 terminates in an edge 76 which is spaced from the first or inlet end 43a of the chute 43 so that an open space is provided in the top of the discharge chute 43 for receiving the resistor panel member 42. The extent to which the resistor panel member extends into the discharge chute 43 is limited by ears 78 and 79 extending from the back plate portion 72 of the panel member 42.

It is to be noted that the resistor panel member 42 is arranged to extend across only a portion of the discharge chute 43 to a point spaced from the bottom wall 48 thereof whereby a small space, indicated by the reference numeral 80, is provided between the bottom plate portion 71 of the resistor panel 42 and the bottom wall 48 of the discharge chute 43. When only a small amount of refuse material has been received in the hopper, the space 80 permits this small amount of refuse material, which is forced or pushed out of the hopper 11 by the ram 28, to be forced under the panel member 42 into the discharge passageway.

The front plate portion 70 of the panel member 42 is positioned to resist movement of refuse material into the discharge chute 43 and would accomplish this purpose if the front plate portion was hung parallel to the front side 1112 of the hopper l 1. However, when movement of the front end 41 of the ram 28 is reversed and it withdraws into the hopper II, a resistor panel member hung with its front plate portion parallel to the front side 11b of the hopper 11 would act as a sweep forcing refuse material back into the hopper 11 thereby reducing the effective open area in front of the ram 28 for receiving refuse to be compacted. Therefore, in the present invention, the front plate portion 70 of the resistor panel member 42 is positioned at an angle to the front side 11b of the hopper 11 so that the resistor panel member 42 does not sweep compacted material back into the hopper. In this way, the open area in the hopper in front of the ram 28 is kept clear of compacted material so that a full charge of refuse material can be received in this open area for the next forward stroke of the ram 28.

As shown in FIG. 1, the front end 41 of the ram 28 is preferably stepped so as to present two faces and 92 to the refuse material in the hopper 11 in front of the ram 28. The first or upper rearward face 90 is separated from the second or lower forward face 92 by a forwardly facing surface 94 which is inclined at an angle relative to the line or axis of movement of the ram 28 as it moves toward and through the opening in the front side 1 lb of the hopper 11.

As the ram 28 moves toward the resistor panel 42, the upper and lower faces 90 and 92 and the inclined forwardly facing surface 94 will compact refuse material against the resistor panel member 42.

On a first forward stroke of the ram 28 toward the resistor panel member 42, the refuse material which is first received in the hopper and which is engaged by the lower forward face 92 will be compacted against the panel member 42 and then forced beneath the panel member 42. At the same time, the refuse material just above the first received refuse material will be partially compacted (precompacted) between the front plate portion 70 of the resistor panel member 42 and the face 90 and the surface 94 on the front end 41 of the ram 28.

When the ram 28 has completed a forward stroke the cam 38 engages the limit switch 40 to initiate a reverse stroke of movement of the ram 28 until the cam 38 engages the limit switch 39 whereupon a second forward stroke of the ram 28 is initiated. On the second forward stroke of the ram 28, partially compacted refuse material is now engaged by the lower forward face 92 and is further compacted as the ram 28 moves forward toward the resistor panel member 42. Then, after a predetermined pressure is developed against the front plate portion 70, sufficient to overcome the force of the biasing springs 73 and 74, the resistor panel member 42 is forced upwardly against the springs 73 and 74 allowing compacted material to be forced into the discharge passageway. At the same time, refuse material situated in front of the upper face 90 and the surface 94 is precompacted against the front plate portion 70 as described above.

Since the front plate portion 70 of the resistor panel member 42 tends to hold refuse material under it by the force of the compressed springs 73. and 74, succeeding forward strokes of the ram 28 force precompacted refuse material against refuse material previously compacted and held under the resistor panel 42, thereby further increasing the density of the previously compacted material.

As compacted material is forced under and beyond the resistor panel 42, it enters the discharge chute 43 where it is prevented from regaining volume by the rectangular tubular shape of the discharge chute 43, i.e., by the side, top and bottom walls 45, 46, 47 and 48. The downward curvature of the chute 43 also helps in preventing the compacted material from regaining volume by tending to resist movement of the material through the chute 43 except when the compacted material is forced into the chute 43 by the ram 28. The finally compacted material is discharged from the outlet end 43b of the discharge chute 43 into suitable containers therefor (not shown) or onto an area for disposition of the compacted material.

The electrical control system for operating the refuse packing assembly is illustrated schematically in FIG. 5 and includes a forward control 104 for energizing the power drive 29 to move the ram 28 forwardly and a reverse control 105 for energizing the power drive 29 to move the ram 28 rearwardly. The forward limit switch 40 is connected in series with the forward control 104 and the reverse limit switch 39 is connected in series with the reverse control 105 as shown schematically in FIG. 5.

Both of the controls 104 and 105 are connected through an overload protection device, e.g., a circuit breaker generally indicated at 106, to one supply line 108 from an electric power source. A second supply line 110 from the electric power source, which completes an electrical circuit to the control system for the assembly 10, is connected through a disconnect or stop switch 112 to a selector switch 114. The selector switch 114 has three positions, Hand, Off and Auto," and is shown in the second or Off" position. In the first position, the selector switch 114 connects the line 110 to a conductor 115 for Hand" or manual operation of the packing assembly 10 as will be hereinafter explained. In the third position, the selector switch 114 connects the line 110 to a conductor 116 and to a conductor 117 for Auto" or automatic operation of the refuse packing assembly 10 as will be hereinafter explained.

In the illustrated embodiment, the switches for the control system are mounted in a switch box 118 which is connected to a control box 119 and both boxes 118 and 119 can be mounted on a side of assembly 10 as shown in H0. 1. The components of the control system which are contained in the control box 119 shown in HO. 1 are enclosed within broken lines 120 in FIG. 5. It is to be understood, of course, that the control box 119 and the switch box 118 need not be mounted on the assembly 10 and instead, can be located anywhere for the greatest convenience of the operator.

When the selector switch 114 is in the third or Auto" position, the line is connected to the conductor 116 for applying electrical power to the control circuits and to the conductor 117 for energizing the light source 37 and a light-sensing circuit 121. The light-sensing circuit 121 includes a photocell 122 and a relay 123 which controls the opening and closing of contacts 124 connected between the conductor 116 and a junction 125. The relay contacts 124 are normally open. With the selector switch 114 in the Auto position, the contacts 124 are only closed when the light path between the light source 37 and the photocell 122 is blocked, and are opened when light is received by the photocell 122 from the light source 122. Thus, when the hopper is empty and light from the light source 37 is received by the photocell 122, the relay contacts 124 will remain open and neither the forward control- 104 or the reverse control 105 will be energized automatically.

The junction 125 connects the conductor 116 to three other conductors 127, 128 and 129 for establishing power circuits to the reverse control 105 and the forward control 104. The reverse control circuit can be traced from the junction 125 through the conductor 127, normally closed contacts 130 of a manually operated forward control switch 131, normally closed contacts 132 controlled by a control relay 134 connected in series with the forward control 104, a conductor 136, the reverse limit switch 39, a conductor 137, and the circuit breaker 106 to the line 108. The conductor 137 also connects the light source 37 and the light-sensing circuit 121 to the circuit breaker 108 to complete the energizing circuit for same from the line 110 to the line 108.

An initial or auxiliary forward control circuit can be traced from the junction 125 through the conductor 128, normally open contacts 140 which are operatively associated with the reverse limit switch 39 so as to be closed when the reverse limit switch 39 is opened, normally closed contacts 142 of a manually operated reverse control switch 143, a conductor 144, the control relay 134, the forward limit switch 40, the forward control 104, the conductor 137, and the circuit breaker 106 to the line 108.

When main forward control circuit can be traced from the junction 125 through the conductor 129, a conductor 146, normally open contacts 148 which are closed by the control relay 134 when it is energized by the establishment or closing of the initial forward control circuit, a conductor 150, a junction 151 of the conductor with the conductor 144, the control relay 134, the forward limit switch 40, the forward control 104, the conductor 137 and the circuit breaker 106 to the line 108.

when the selector switch 114 is in the Hand" or manual position, the line 110 is connected to the conductor 115 which is connected to the nonnally open contact 153 of the reverse control switch 143 and to the normally open contact 154 of the forward control switch 131. With the selector switch in the Hand position, the forward control switch 131 can be depressed to establish a manual forward control circuit which can be traced from the contact 154 through the switch 131, to a contact 155 connected to the conductor 150 and then through junction 151, control relay 134, etc., to the line 108 for actuating the forward control 104. On the other hand, the reverse control switch 143 can be depressed to establish a manual reverse control circuit from the contact 153 through the switch 143 to a contact 156 connected to the line 146 and then through the conductor 129, the junction 125, the conductor 127, the contacts 130 and 132, the conductor 138, etc., to the line 108 for actuating the reverse control 105.

It will be understood that, when the ram 28 is driven in the forward direction, by depressing the forward control switch 131, it (the ram 28) will continue in the forward direction until the switch 131 is released and the cam 38 engages the forward limit switch 40 to open same and thereby interrupt the power circuit to the forward control 104. On the other hand, when the ram 28 is driven in the reverse direction by depressing the reverse control switch 143, it (the ram 28) will continue to move in the reverse direction until the switch 143 is released and the cam 38 engages the reverse limit switch 39 to open same and thereby interrupt the power circuit to the reverse control 105.

For automatic operation of the packing assembly 10, the selector switch 1 14 is placed in the Auto position and energizing current is obtained from the line 1 through the selector switch 114 and the conductor 117 to energize the light source 37, the photocell 122 and the relay 123. As long as there is a light path from the light source 37 to the photocell 122, the contacts 124 will remain open and no current will be delivered to either the forward control 104 or the reverse control 105. When the light path is interrupted, the photocell 122 will actuate the relay 123 to close the contacts 124. As explained above, the contacts 148 are normally open and the contacts 132 are normally closed. It is to be noted that the contacts 148 are closed and the contacts 132 are opened only when the relay 134 is energized.

Assuming that the ram 28 is in an intermediate position between the forward limit switch 40 and the reverse limit switch 39 when the contacts 124 are closed, only the reverse control 105 will be energized since the contacts 130 and 132 and reverse limit switch 39 are closed and the contacts 140 and 148 are open. The reverse control power circuit is then established from the line 110 to line 108 as follows: closed switch 112, selector switch 114, conductor 116, closed contacts 124, conductor 127, closed contacts 130 and 132, conductor 136, closed limit switch 29, reverse control 105 and circuit breaker 106. With the contacts 140 and 148 open, the forward control 104 is not energized.

It will be understood that whenever the selector switch 114 is moved from the Hand" or Off position to the Auto" position, the power drive 29 will be energized to move the ram 28 in a reverse direction by virtue of the energization of the reverse control 105 in the manner described above, unless the ram 28 is in the fully reversed position with the cam 38 engaging the reverse limit switch 39 to open same and to close the contacts 140.

When the ram 28 has completed a reverse stroke and is in the fully reversed position with the cam 38 engaging the limit switch 39, the limit switch 39 is opened and the associated contacts 140 are closed. With the contacts 140 closed, a power circuit for energizing the forward control 104 is established from the line 110 through switch 112, selector switch 114, conductor 116, contacts 124, conductor 128, closed contacts 140, closed contacts 142, conductor 144, relay 134, forward limit switch 40, forward control 104, conductor 137, and circuit breaker 106 to the line 108. Once the relay 134 is energized, the contacts 148 are closed and contacts 132 are opened. Then, after the ram 28 has moved forward a small distance, the cam 38 disengages with the limit switch 39 resulting in the closing of the reverse limit switch 39 and the opening of the contacts 140. The reclosing of the limit switch 39 does not cause energization of the reverse control 105, however, since contacts 132 are now open. Also, opening of the contacts 140 does not open the power circuit to the forward control 104 since contacts 148 are now closed. That is to say, the main power circuit is now established from junction 125 to line 108 through conductors 129 and 146, closed contacts 148, conductor 150, junction 151, conductor 145, relay 134, forward limit switch 40, forward control 104, conductor 137 and circuit breaker 106. The forward control 104 will be energized in this manner until the ram 28 engages the limit switch 40 to open same and thereby open the power circuit to the relay 134 and the forward control 104. When the relay 134 is deenergized, the contacts 132 are closed to immediately establish a power circuit to the reverse control 105 to start the ram 28 moving in the reverse direction.

It will be understood that when the selector switch 114 is in the third or Auto" position, the ram 28 will cycle back and forth until a light path is again opened between the light source 37 and the photocell 122 to open the contacts 124.

For manual operation, the selector switch 114 is moved to the Hand position to.connect the line to the conductor 1 15 and thereby place energizing potential at the contacts 153 and 154 of the forward and reverse control switches 131 and 143 respectively. When the forward control switch 131 is depressed, the contacts 130 are opened to open the power circuit leading to the reverse control 105. At the same time, a circuit is closed between contact 154 and contact 155 to establish a power circuit for the forward control 104 from conductor to line 108 from contact 154 through switch 131 to contact 155, to conductor 150 and then through junction 151, relay 134, limit switch 40, forward control 104, conductor 137 and circuit breaker 106. With the relay 134 energized, the contacts 132 will be opened to further open the power circuit to the reverse control 105. The forward control 104 is now energized to energize the power drive 29 to move the ram 28 forward until the cam 38 engages the limit switch 40 to open the power circuit to the forward control 104. The relay 134 will then be deenergized and the contacts 132 will close, However, the contacts are still open and therefore the power circuit to the reverse control 105 will remain open circuited and movement of the ram 28 will stop.

If the forward control switch 131 is now released, the contacts 130 will be closed and the circuit across contacts 154 and 155 will be opened. Although the contacts 130 are now closed, there is no complete circuit from the line 110 to the conductor 127 leading to the closed contacts 130 while the selector switch 114 is in the Hand" position. Such a circuit will not be established until the reverse control switch 143 is depressed to close a circuit between contacts 153 and 156 to conductors 146, 129 and 127 and the closed contacts 130 for energizing the reverse control 105. At the same time, contacts 142 are opened by the switch 143 to prevent the establishment of a power circuit to the forward control 104. Once the reverse control 105 is energized by depressing the switch 143, the ram 28 will move in the reverse direction until the cam 38 engages the limit switch 39 to open same. At the same time, the associated contacts will be closed. However, with the contacts 142 open, a circuit to the relay 134 and forward control 104 will not be established and movement of the ram will stop.

Before using the packing assembly 10, a suitable container (not shown) is preferably positioned under the outlet end 43b of the discharge chute 43 and the discharge chute 43 is secured in the position shown in FIG. 1 by the hooks 66 and 67. The selector switch 114 can now be operated. Preferably, the selector switch 114 will only operate with a key (not shown) which only can be removed from the selector switch 1 14 when it is in the position.

When the selector switch 114 is in the Hand or manual position, the ram 28 may be moved in either a forward direction or reverse direction by pressing a respective push button for one of the control switches 131 or 143. Preferably, the switches 131 and 143 are resiliently biased, respectively, to the positions shown in FIG. 5 so that it is necessary to hold one of the pushbuttons depressed when operating the packing assembly 10 manually. As explained above, at the end of a forward or reverse stroke, the ram 28 will stop when either one of the limit switches 40 or 39 is opened. Should it be necessary to reverse the ram stroke before it is completed, this may be accomplished by releasing the depressed pushbutton and depressing the other pushbutton. The ram 28 will immediately stop and then start moving in the opposite direction and can be stopped again at any position by releasing the depressed pushbutton.

When the selector switch 114 is in the Auto" position, the ram 28 will begin cycling any time the light path through the hopper 11 is interrupted and continue until the hopper 11 is empty or the light path is no longer obstructed. Automatic cycling may be stopped at any time by turning the selector switch 1 14 to the Off" position or the Hand" position.

If the pushbutton for the forward control switch 131 is depressed while the ram 28 is moving in the reverse direction with the selector switch 114 in the Auto" position, movement of the ram 28 will be stopped. Reverse movement of the ram will continue when the depressed pushbutton for the switch 131 is released. If the pushbutton for the switch 143 is depressed while the ram 28 is moving in the forward direction with the selector switch 114 in the Auto position, movement of the ram will be stopped. However, upon releasing the pushbutton for the switch 143, the ram 28 will move in the reverse direction until the cam 38 engages the reverse limit switch 39.

Cycling of the ram 28 also can be stopped at any time by depressing the stop button of the stop switch 112. Preferably, the stop switch includes a holding mechanism which maintains the stop condition. The holding mechanism (not shown) can include a knurled ring located behind the head of the stop button and a latch mechanism which cooperate so that once the stop button is depressed, the switch 112 is opened until the knurled ring is turned in a clockwise direction to release the stop button and permit the switch 1 12 to reclose. This holding mechanism is a safety feature to prevent cycling from resuming when hand pressure is removed from the stop button of the stop switch 112. Thus, unless immediate resumption of cycling of the ram 28 is desirable, the selector switch 114 is moved to the Off" position before turning the knurled ring behind the stop button.

Should movement of the ram 28 be prevented by some unusual obstruction, the circuit breaker 106 will trip and the motor 30 will stop. When this occurs, the operator places the selector switch 114 in the Off position and then resets the circuit breaker. Next, the operator will unlatch and raise the discharge chute 43 to determine the nature of the obstruction. After this is done, the selector switch 114 is placed in the Hand" position and the reverse control switch 143 is depressed to back the ram 28 away from the obstruction. If it should be necessary to manually clear the hopper, the circuit breaker is first moved to an Off" position and the selector switch 114 is moved to the Off position and the key is removed.

lt is to be understood, of course, that the refuse packing assembly of the present invention can be used for compacting other material besides refuse material. ln other words, the assembly 10 can be utilized in any application where it is desirable to substantially reduce the volume of a compressible material while transferring it from one place to another.

l claim:

1. A refuse packing assembly for compacting refuse at a lower level in a multilevel building in which a refuse chute communicates with the levels of the building for receiving refuse material therefrom, said assembly including a hopper which is adapted to receive refuse material from said refuse chute and which has an outlet opening, a movable panel mounted at said hopper outlet opening, means for compacting refuse in said hopperv and for discharging refuse from said hopper through said hopper outlet opening, means for confining compacted refuse to prevent expansion thereof including a generally enclosed discharge chute having an inlet end communicating with said hopper outlet opening and an outlet end positioned to discharge compacted refuse into a trash container, said compacting means including a ram positioned for movement in said hopper to and from said panel, said ram having a rigid-stepped front end including a lower forward face, an upper rearward face located above and behind said forward face and an inclined face extending between said lower and upper faces whereby refuse material deposited between said panel and said upper and inclined faces is partially compacted between said upper and inclined faces and said panel during the first stroke of movement of said ram toward said panel and is more fully compacted between said lower face and said panel during the second stroke of movement of said ram towards said panel, said panel being inclined with respect to the direction of movement of said ram and in a direction generally parallel to said inclined face of said ram,

said panel being yieldably biased toward said ram with a predetermined pressure, whereby, after said ram has compacted refuse material against said panel to an extent where said predetermined pressure is exerted against said panel, continued movement of said ram toward said panel will force said yieldable panel backward and upward allowing compacted refuse to be forced through said hopper outlet opening into said discharge chute.

2. The assembly of claim 1 in which said discharge chute is pivotally mounted to said hopper to permit movement of said inlet end thereof toward and away from said hopper outlet opening.

3. The assembly of claim 1 in which said panel extends downwardly into said discharge chute to a point which is spaced a predetermined distance above the bottom of said discharge chute so that a small space is provided beneath said panel and said bottom of said discharge chute whereby small amounts of refuse material received in said hopper can be pushed by said ram through said space and into said discharge chute.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said compacting means includes control means for controlling the operation of said ram, said control means including power means for moving said ram and sensing means for sensing material in said hopper, said sensing means being operatively associated with said power means and arranged to energize said power means when a predetermined amount of refuse material is in said hopper and to deenergize said power means when less than said predetermined amount of refuse material is in said hopper.

5. The assembly of claim 4 in which said control means includes means for limiting the extent of back and forth movement of said ram.

6. The assembly of claim 4 in which said power means includes a screw threadedly received in said ram and an electric motor for rotating said screw.

7. The assembly of claim 4 in which said control means includes first circuit means for automatically energizing said power means to cyclically move said ram in a reverse direction and in a forward direction and second circuit means for manually energizing said power means, said second circuit means including a forward control switch for energizing a forward control means to actuate said power means to move said ram in a forward direction and a reverse control switch for energizing a reverse control means to actuate said power means to move said ram in a reverse direction.

8. The assembly of claim 4 in which said control means includes first means for actuating said power means to move said ram in a forward direction, second means for actuating said power means to move said ram in a reverse direction, third means for deenergizing said first actuating means after said ram has moved a predetermined distance in said forward direction and fourth means for deenergizing said second actuating means after said ram has moved a predetermined distance in said reverse direction.

9. The assembly of claim 28 in which said third means includes means for energizing said second actuating means when said first actuating means is deenergized and said fourth means includes means for energizing said first actuating means when said second actuating means is deenergized. 

1. A refuse packing assembly for compacting refuse at a lower level in a multilevel building in which a refuse chute communicates with the levels of the building for receiving refuse material therefrom, said assembly including a hopper which is adapted to receive refuse material from said refuse chute and which has an outlet opening, a movable panel mounted at said hopper outlet opening, means for compacting refuse in said hopper and for discharging refuse from said hopper through said hopper outlet opening, means for confining compacted refuse to prevent expansion thereof including a generally enclosed discharge chute having an inlet end communicating with said hopper outlet opening and an outlet end positioned to discharge compacted refuse into a trash container, said compacting means including a ram positioned for movement in said hopper to and from said panel, said ram having a rigid-stepped front end including a lower forward face, an upper rearward face located above and behind said forward face and an inclined face extending between said lower and upper faces whereby refuse material deposited between said panel and said upper and inclined faces is partially compacted between said upper and inclined faces and said panel during the first stroke of movement of said ram toward said panel and is more fully compacted between said lower face and said panel during the second stroke of movement of said ram towards said panel, said panel being inclined with respect to the direction of movement of said ram and in a direction generally parallel to said inclined face of said ram, said panel being yieldably biased toward said ram with a predetermined pressure, whereby, after said ram has compacted refuse material against said panel to an extent where said predetermined pressure is exerted against said panel, continued movement of said ram toward said panel will force said yieldable panel backward and upward allowing compacted refuse to be forced through said hopper outlet opening into said discharge chute.
 2. The assembly of claim 1 in which said discharge chute is pivotally mounted to said hopper to permit movement of said inlet end thereof toward and away from said hopper outlet opening.
 3. The assembly of claim 1 in which said panel extends downwardly into said discharge chute to a point which is sPaced a predetermined distance above the bottom of said discharge chute so that a small space is provided beneath said panel and said bottom of said discharge chute whereby small amounts of refuse material received in said hopper can be pushed by said ram through said space and into said discharge chute.
 4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said compacting means includes control means for controlling the operation of said ram, said control means including power means for moving said ram and sensing means for sensing material in said hopper, said sensing means being operatively associated with said power means and arranged to energize said power means when a predetermined amount of refuse material is in said hopper and to deenergize said power means when less than said predetermined amount of refuse material is in said hopper.
 5. The assembly of claim 4 in which said control means includes means for limiting the extent of back and forth movement of said ram.
 6. The assembly of claim 4 in which said power means includes a screw threadedly received in said ram and an electric motor for rotating said screw.
 7. The assembly of claim 4 in which said control means includes first circuit means for automatically energizing said power means to cyclically move said ram in a reverse direction and in a forward direction and second circuit means for manually energizing said power means, said second circuit means including a forward control switch for energizing a forward control means to actuate said power means to move said ram in a forward direction and a reverse control switch for energizing a reverse control means to actuate said power means to move said ram in a reverse direction.
 8. The assembly of claim 4 in which said control means includes first means for actuating said power means to move said ram in a forward direction, second means for actuating said power means to move said ram in a reverse direction, third means for deenergizing said first actuating means after said ram has moved a predetermined distance in said forward direction and fourth means for deenergizing said second actuating means after said ram has moved a predetermined distance in said reverse direction.
 9. The assembly of claim 28 in which said third means includes means for energizing said second actuating means when said first actuating means is deenergized and said fourth means includes means for energizing said first actuating means when said second actuating means is deenergized. 